A COVID-19 guide for caregivers

While the pandemic phase of COVID-19 officially ended in May 2023, the risk of severe COVID-19 infection is still a very real possibility for millions of people. This includes people who are 65 years or older, people who are immunocompromised, and people with an underlying health condition, including common conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, chronic lung diseases, and cancer.

Roughly 3 out of 4 adults in the United States are living with these or other underlying health conditions, and the prevalence is much higher among adults over age 65 (roughly 9 out of 10).

As a caregiver or care partner of someone at risk for severe COVID-19, you want to do what you can to protect your loved one. Below are a few strategies to consider.

Work with your loved one’s healthcare providers

A healthcare provider will always be your best source of information. While it helps to have an overview of risk factors like age, compromised immunity, and underlying conditions, everyone’s health is different.

If you haven’t already, you or your loved one should talk to a healthcare provider about overall health and risk factors for severe COVID-19. A great place to start is by talking to a primary care provider. If your loved one is managing an underlying health condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19, infection risk is also an important topic to discuss with specialists.

Stay up to date on vaccines

This is a key topic to discuss with your loved one’s healthcare provider. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 remains one of the most reliable tools for preventing severe infections.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Vaccines are especially important for people at elevated risk for severe COVID-19 as well as caregivers and other members of the household. It helps to think of immunization in terms of both individuals and households.
• Vaccines are regularly updated to protect against new variants. New variants are still emerging, and it’s important to get updated vaccines.
• Some people who are immunocompromised may require an additional dose of their COVID-19 vaccine. This helps compensate for the lower immune response to vaccines that occurs with compromised immune systems.

In addition to vaccines, people who are moderately-to-severely immunocompromised may receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an infusion of laboratory-produced antibodies that provides protection against the virus that causes COVID-19 before exposure.

Have a plan for exposure, symptoms, and infection

This is another key topic to discuss with healthcare providers—what to do if your loved one is exposed to COVID-19, develops symptoms, and/or anyone in the household tests positive for infection. Here are a few steps you can take:

• Have tests on hand at home, know how to administer these tests, and know where to go for testing.
• If your loved one tests positive, there are antiviral medications that can reduce symptoms, duration, and help prevent severe outcomes. Talk to your provider about how to acquire these medications if needed.
• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is also available. These are prescription medications taken after a high-risk exposure but before a positive test result. These can help prevent an infection from developing. Again, talk to your provider about how to acquire these medications if needed.

Also have a plan in place for how to manage a household when someone is sick—how and where to isolate, who can help out with caregiving or other tasks, what over-the-counter medications you’ll want on hand, and what you will eat. It also helps to have a few ideas for entertainment to help you or a loved one relax while recovering.

Always discuss the potential for adverse effects and drug interactions before starting any medication. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist will be your best source of information.

Keep up with basic precautions

Much has changed since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the basics are still important for preventing infection. Wash hands and always have soap and hand sanitizer available. Test before seeing anyone who is at an increased risk for severe infection. Avoid crowds, wear a mask when crowds are unavoidable, and socialize outdoors whenever possible. Keep homes well-ventilated, change HVAC filters regularly, and consider a portable HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) cleaner.